Brooke Weston

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Year 9 trip to Duxford

Year 9 students visited the Imperial War Museum at Duxford to learn historical accounts of life in World War Two, both from the perspective of the troops and also from the citizens who remained on the Home Front.

The students had to research specific information and they completed a workbook that will be used as the basis for future classroom-based studies. They toured the 1940 Operations Room, the Battle of Britain exhibition and the Land Warfare hall that had a section dedicated to the D-Day landings.

The exhibitions were packed with artefacts, information boards and audio-visual presentations. One task focussed on the domestic Anderson shelters that sheltered millions of people during air raids. The students also saw the replica wartime operations room, complete with propaganda posters, communications systems and a map used for plotting Allied and enemy aircraft positions. There was also time to tour the American Air Museum.

The students were accompanied by Mr Rutt, Ms Coombe and support staff. Mr Rutt said; ‘Duxford provides an amazing opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the history and drama of the Second World War. Not only did they gain an understanding of what life was like for a front line soldier they also saw the vital support roles at home which kept communities safe and secure.

'Women played a vital role in the war effort, not only in munitions factories, but communications and code-breaking roles, and also as agents in the Special Operations Executive.

'War, although brutal, can be a very effective catalyst for change as it can bring advances in the fields of medicine and technology as well as social and political change. The Imperial War Museum brings history to life and it gave those that visited a head start for our future topic work.’